2018 NFL Draft: Falcons have eye on Temple DT Jullian Taylor

Well, we’re a little more than a week out from opening night of the draft, which means these 2018 visits, workouts and draft rumors are about to be a thing of the past.

But, the Atlanta Falcons are still getting them in to make sure they’ve got the best grasp on this class they can possibly get. Draft Analyst’s Troy Pauline (via Falcfans) reports that the team is hosting Temple DT Jullian Taylor for an official visit.

Taylor is a tall guy (6’5”), but clocks in at 280 lbs., which is pretty light for a defensive tackle of his height. NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein says that if he can stay healthy, he’s got a good chance of competing for a roster spot.

Despite just one season as a full-time player, Taylor’s combination of tape and his pro day workout has put him on the radar of teams looking for camp competition at defensive tackle. Taylor’s durability could obviously be a hindrance for teams considering him, but he plays with good hands and balance at the point of attack and this season’s play could be a sign of what he’s capable of if he stays healthy.

Taylor is the second Temple defensive lineman the team has hosted. They met with DE Jake Martin earlier this month. The Owls must have something cooking on their defense. One could almost say this is a...hoo’s hoo...of defensive line prospects. Sorry.

It sounds like this is a continued strategy for Atlanta to host guys who are fringe draft picks/possible UDFAs and entice them into coming to the Falcons if they’re indeed the latter when it counts. Taylor’s got the build to play both tackle and edge, so perhaps Atlanta likes his potential versatility. That’s a big buzz word in this era of Falcons football.

So, for those that are worried about the team’s defensive line depth, you’re about to get your answers here in about a week or so to see who Atlanta is about to bring in. One thing we can tell you, without a shadow of a doubt, is that they’re going to bring in some new DL talent. Who that is, though, is anyone’s guess.

We’ll see if one of these former Owls is ... Hoo ... they decide to add come draft weekend.

I’ll stop.